Lock indicator

ABSTRACT

A lock indicator has a lock body with a lock plug rotatable in the body about an axis. The lock plug has an inner end face and an outer end face as well as a bore extending through the plug between the end faces. A rod is slidable in the bore and has a follower end in abutment with a cam on the end of a driver bar rotatable about the axis and adapted to slide the rod against spring pressure to project the rod from the outer face of the body when the driver bar is rotated relative to the plug. The driver bar is usually rotated by a hand control on the interior side of the lock.

1451 July 23, 1974 l l LOCK INDICATOR [75] lnventor: Ralph E. Neary, SanFrancisco,

Calif.

[73] Assignce: Schlage Lock Company, San

Francisco, Calif.

[22] Filed: Apr. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 351,512

De Vines 70/432 X Ruppert 70/432 Primary Examiner-Robert L. WolfeAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Lothrop & West [57} ABSTRACT A lock indicatorhas a lock body with a lock plug rotatable in the body about an axis.The lock plug has an inner end face and an outer end face as well as abore extending through the plug between the end faces. A rod is slidablein the bore and has a follower end in abutment with a cam on the end ofa driver bar rotatable about the axis and adapted to slide the rodagainst spring pressure to project the rod from the outer face of thebody when the driver bar is rotated relative to the plug. The driver baris usually rotated by a hand control on the interior side of the lock.

9 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTEU M2 3.824.819

sum 1'or 3 a a 'III. run. I

LOCK INDICATOR In the usual installation of a lock on a door, it iscustomary to provide both an interior knob with turn button and anexterior knob with key for controlling the dead bolt or latch bolt orboth. In some installations, particularly in hotels and the like, it isof interest to have an indication on the exterior of the lock whetherthe lock is locked or unlocked from the interior. This is oftenaccomplished by means of a pin responsive to interior actuation andprojecting from or remaining within the exterior lock plug, dependingupon whether the lock is interiorly locked or unlocked. Examples ofmechanisms of this sort are set forth in Tornoe U.S. Pat. No. 2,738,666,Tornoe U.S. Pat. No. 2,793,522 and De Vines U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,6l8.

In the present instance it is desired to have an indicator pin translatebetween two positions with respect to the exterior of a lock plug uponrotation of a controlling device on the interior of the lock.

In addition, in certain relatively elaborate locks such as shown in thecopending application of Ralph E. Nearyfiled June 8, 1973 with Ser. No.368,070 and entitled Lock it is sometimes desired to prevent readyaccess to a key actuated plug, usually on the exterior of the lock,while retaining the indicating factor the lock may have at the key plug.For example, in some hotel installations there may be provided two keyreceiving plugs, only one of which is utilized by the guest but theother of which incorporates the indicator device.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a lock indicatorwhich can be applied to or removed from a locking portion of a lock inorder to preclude ready key access thereto but which will neverthelessafford an indication of the condition of the lock as controlled from theinterior.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock indicator whichaffords a very simple conversion of rotary motion of the control on theinside to a rectilinear motion of the indicator on the exterior.

Another object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary lockindicator which can easily be applied to a standard lock mechanism butrequires a special technique to be removed from the lock mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide various forms ofindication, both visual and tactile, for a lock.

Another object of the invention is in general to improve a lockindicator.

Other objects together with the foregoing are attained in the embodimentof the invention described in the accompanying description andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical plan of a lock indicator constructed pursuant tothe invention, much of the mechanism being shown in cross-section on ahorizontal, transverse plane with some of the associated lock beingillustrated in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the structure of FIG. 1, theview being taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. I and being to an enlargedscale;

FIG. 3 is a view comparable to FIG. I but shows the lock indicatormechanism in a different position of indication;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, the plane of which is indicated by theline 4-4 of FIG. 3 and with some portions in elevation;

FIG. 5 is a view comparable to FIG. 1 but showing a modif ed form ofindicator;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the structure of FIG. 5, portions being brokenaway;

FIG. 7 is a view comparable to FIG. 5 but showing the indicator in adifferent position;

FIG. 8 is a view comparable to FIG. 1 but to an enlarged scale andshowing a removable form of indicator;

FIG. 9 is a view comparable to FIG. 8 but showing an indicator in adifferent position;

FIG. 10 is a view in cross-section, the plane of which is indicated bythe line 10-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is an end view of the structure shown in FIG. 10, portions beingbroken away;

FIG. 12 is a cross-section, the plane of which is indicated by the line12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a cross-section comparable to FIG. 8 but showing a modifiedform of construction;

FIG. 14 is an end view of the construction shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross-section, the plane of which is indicated by the line15-15 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a view in cross-section on a plane comparable to that of FIG.15 but showing a different arrangement of a button and spring;

FIG. 17 is a view comparable to FIG. 15 but showing a different form ofmechanism; and

FIG. 18 is a front elevation of the structure of FIG. 17.

Some matters disclosed but not claimed herein are claimed in copendingapplication entitled Lock Indicator Shield," filed Mar. 22, 1974 withSer. No. 453,994.

In one typical environment the lock indicator is utilized in connectionwith a lock 6 installed in a door panel 7 for the control of a latchbolt 8, in this instance augmented by a dead latching plunger 9. On theexterior the lock includes the customary escutcheon or rose 11 and aknob I2 rotatable with respect to the rose about a horizontal, throughaxis 13. Installed within the exterior knob 12 is a lock body 14containing a plug 16 and provided with pin tumbler mechanism 17. Thebody has a keyway 18 for the reception of a key 19 to actuate the pintumbler mechanism and to rotate the lock plug about the axis 13.

On the interior of the panel 7 the lock includes an interior escutcheon21 carrying a thumb turn device 22, broken away, with which isassociated a rotary thumb turn bar 23 connected, as diagrammaticallyillustrated, with a driver bar 24 mounted in the lock plug 16 andsupported therein by a conventional, pinned closure 26. Upon rotation ofthe thumb turn 23 the driver bar 24 is comparable rotated. Theconnection and securing closure 26 is of a conventional kind, as shownin Walter R. Schlage U.S. Pat. No. 2,293,856.

The lock body 14 is customarily mounted in a spindle 27 (FIGS. 2 and 3).The lock body includes a flag or wing 28 fitted into a slot 29 in thespindle so that the lock body and the spindle are not relativelyrotatable. The plug 16 fits a bore 31 in the lock body so as to befreely rotatable relative thereto about the axis 13. The plug 16 carriesa flange 32 defining an exterior end face 33 whereas the other end ofthe plug terminates in an end face 34 adjacent threads 36 engaged by acap 37 positioned on the plug so as to confine the plug axially but withsufficient clearance for ready rotation.

The plug is formed with a longitudinally extending keyway 18 to receivethe key 19. The keyway is intersected by a plurality of pin bores 39 inthe plug and in the body wing 28 for the reception of tumbler pins 41and customary springs 42 (H6.

Pursuant to the invention, the plug 16 is particularly provided with anindicator bore 43 extending entirely therethrough parallel to the axis13. The bore has a portion 44 of relatively small diameter openingthrough the face 33 and has another portion 45 of relatively largediameter opening through the end face 34. At the junction of the boreportions there is afforded a shoulder 46.

Designed to fit into the bore is a pin 47 likewise of two diameters toafford a shoulder 48. Extending between and bearing against the twoshoulders 46 and 48 is an expansion spring 49. This tends to keep thepin urged toward the interior of the plug so that the exterior end 51 ofthe pin is approximately flush with the plug end face 33, as shown inFIG. 1. i

The pin 47 at the other end has a follower portion 52 or end urged bythe spring against a cam 53 formed at the end of the driver bar 24. Thecam is conveniently inclusive of a surface 54 which is undulatory whenconsidered in an axial direction near the periphery of the cam. The camis easily fabricated simply by providing a peaked, diametrical ridgeacross the cam. The carn fits within a counter bore 57 in one end of theplug 16 so that the cam has effective rotary support in the plug. Inaddition, the cam is adjacent to a partial flange 58 rotatably confinedbetween the end of the plug and the interior of the cap 37. The flange58. as especially shown in FIG. 4. has a cutaway portion 59 tointerengage with an axial pin 61 projecting from the body and engagingscallops 62 in the cap flange, as shown in the abovemcntioned US. Pat.No. 2,293,856.

The cam and the driver bar 24 are confined to limited lost motionrotation relative to the lock plug. The radial extent of the cam 53 issufficient so that at least some of the undulatory portion engages withthe follower end 52 of the pin 47. When the driver bar is in oneposition, as shown in FIG. 1, the spring 49 is effective to urge the pinso that the outer face 51 at the pin end is flush with the end face 33of the plug but when the driver bar 24 is rotated for approximately aquarter turn, the undulatory peripheral portion of the ridge cam 53bears against the follower surface 52 and urges the pin 47 against thespring to compress the spring and project the pin end 51 away from thedatum face 33.

With this arrangement whenever the driver bar 24 is rotated from theinterior by means of the thumb turn 23 to a door locked position, thepin 47 is projected so that anyone on the outside of the installationcan visually observe that the pin is projected. Also, by feeling thatthe end 51 of the pin is spaced from the plane 33 he can detect that thelock is in locked condition as set by the interior thumb turn 23.

When the thumb turn is rotated back to its initial position and thedriver bar 24 is rotated oppositely, the ridge at the cam peripheryrides out from under the follower end 52 of the pin. The spring 49 thenrestores the rod to a position in which the end face 51 is substantiallyflush with the end face 33. By visual inspection or by tactileinvestigation it can be determined that the interior control for thelock has positioned the lock in unlocked condition. This indication iscustomarily utilized as a token of occupancy of the room behind thepanel 7.

In some instances a tactile indication is not necessary. In such casesthere is provided an arrangement. as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, in whichthe construction is about the same as before. Within the outer end ofthe bore 43 in the plug 16 there is permanently installed a lightgathering lens 66, preferably having a color contrasting to that of theflange 32 of the lock plug. Also, the rod 67 operating in the bore 43 isthe same as previously described except that it is shorter and carries areflector 68 mounted across the end thereof.

The dimensions are such that when the lock is in unlocked condition therod 67 is retracted a substantial distance from the lens 66 or window.Incident light falling upon the lens is generally lost within the darkinterior of the bore 43. On the contrary, when the lock is locked, asshown in FIG. 7, the rod 67 is moved toward the exterior so that thereflector 68 or mirror is brought into very close juxtaposition or eveninto abutment with the lens 66. incident light entering the lens isimmediately reflected by the mirror surface 68 and externally affords areadily discernible, visual glow. Thus, while there is no tactileindication since the lens 66 always stays in axial position,nevertheless there is a readily observable visual indication to showwhether or not the lock is in locked or unlocked condition and byimplication that the associated room is occupied or unoccupied.

In some cases it is desired to guard the keyway 18 against the readyintroduction of a key yet to preserve the indicator function of thelock. In that instance an arrangement, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 12,inclusive, can be utilized. Most of the parts are as previouslydescribed.

Designed to fit over a conical depression 71 in the knob 12 is a shield72 conveniently of plastic material having an integral collar 73adhesively secured to a flange 74 on a base plate 76. The base plate isdesigned to fit snugly against the end face 33 of the flange 32. Thereis a hook extension 77 on the base plate having an irregularcross-sectional configuration corresponding to the irregularcross-sectional configuration of the keyway, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6,for example. The hook 77 runs along the bottom of the keyway and has anupstanding projection 78 having a radial face designed to lie behind andengage with a usual tumbler pin 41 extending into the keyway 18.

The shield is mounted merely by pressing the hook member 77 into thekeyway. The pin tumbler 41 is cammed up on an inclined surface 79 of thehook and then is forced downwardly ahead of the hook and is retained bythe spring pressure on the pin 41. This insert then precludes the use ofa key in this portion of the lock.

The shield or protector for the keyway is effective to perform anindicating function. To that end inside the drum 73 there is provided areciprocable piston 81 having a relatively large inner portion slidablymounted within the drum 73 and having a reduced central button 82integral with the remainder of the piston 81 and lying in an aperture 83in the shield. A spring 84 is interposed between the piston and theshield 72 and urges the button 82 into a position substantially flushwith the outer face of the shield 72.

The piston overlies the end of the pin 47. When the pin is projected thebutton 82 is similarly projected and so affords a visual and tactileindication of the condition of the lock even though the pin 47 itself isinaccessible and out of sight. When the pin 47 is retracted uponunlocking of the lock, the spring 84 moves the piston 81 into itsretracted position thus withdrawing the button 82 and so affording theopposite indication.

Since it is sometimes desired to remove the lock guard, the button 82 isprovided with a plurality, such as four, of peripheral, axiallyextending grooves 86 at least one and preferably two of which open intoa cross channel 87 affording one or more straight paths from the outsideto the inside of the keyway but at an angle, as shown in FIG. 10. A rod88 or stiff wire or the like can be introduced through an open groove 86to extend through the cross channel 87 and engage under one end of thetumbler pin 41. By rocking the rod 88 the user can lift the pin 41against the urgency of its spring sufficiently to clear the end of thehook 78. The guard can then be removed by withdrawal of the hook member77 from the keyway which is then accessible to a proper key in theregular way. The ordinary indicating pin 47 is thus exposed to performits direct indicating function.

A somewhat similar arrangement is shown in FIGS. I3, 14 and I5,inclusive, except that the indicator body 91 has a relatively deeprecess 92 to receive one end of a spring 93, the other end of which isin abutment with the cup 94 corresponding generally with the drum 73.The construction is generally similar to that previously describedexcept that the spring keeps the body 91 projected despite the positionof the pin 47. There is consequently no visual indication of the lockcondition but an observer by pressing upon the body 91 can depress it ifthe lock is unlocked but cannot do so if the lock is locked. for theprojected pin 47 then blocks the body in projected position.

In FIG. 16 is shown a variation in which a cup 96, similar to the cup 94and having a hook 97, as previously described, receives a shield 98comparable to those previously described. In this instance there isprovided a button 99 projecting from a body 101 slidable with the shield98 under the urgency of a spring I02. The movable members areconveniently metallic and have a light reflective coating 103 around thebutton or at least a contrasting color coated on the button or acontrasting colored button. The projection of the button stands outmarkedly from the background appearance of the shield itself.

As disclosed in FIGS. I7 and 18, there is shown a somewhat simplifiedversion in which the parts are generally as previously indicated. Inthis instance the shield 106 is substantially as before and carries abutton 107 integral with a hook 108 which extends into the keyway. Aspring 109 always urges the button 107 outwardly whether or not theindicator pin 47 is withdrawn and the lock is in interiorly unlockedcondition. An investigator can press on the button 107. If he candepress the button, the indication is that the lock is unlocked from theinterior. This momentary depression removes the hook momentarily fromengagement with the tumbler pin 41 but as soon as thumb pressure isremoved from the button 107 the hook 108 is restored to its retainingposition against the pin 41. When the pin 47 is projected under lockedconditions then an attempted depression of the button 107 is ineffectivebut does afford an indication that the lock is locked from the interior.

A simplified removal arrangement is afforded. The button 107 is providedwith a channel Ill through which a wire can be inserted to lift the pin41 sufficiently to disengage from the hook 108 and permit withdrawal ofthe guard.

What is claimed is:

l. A lock indicator comprising a lock body, a lock plug rotatable insaid body about an axis and having an inner end face and an outer endface, means defining a bore in said plug extending between said endfaces, a rod slidable in said bore and having a follower end, a driverbar rotatable about said axis relative to said plug, and a cam on saiddriver bar in engagement with said follower end and adapted to slidesaid rod in said bore when said driver bar is rotated relative to saidplug.

2. A device as in claim 1 in which said rod extends alongside of andparallel to said axis and said cam includes an axially undulatorysurface spaced from said axis and in line with said follower end.

3. A device as in claim 1 including a spring urging said follower end ofsaid rod toward said cam.

4. A device as in claim 3 in which said spring is disposed in said boresurrounding said rod.

5. A device as in claim 4 in which said bore includes a shoulder andsaid pin includes a shoulder and said spring bears against both of saidshoulders.

6. A device as in claim 1 in which said plug has a counter bore in oneend centered on said axis and intersecting said bore, and said cam isdisposed in said counter bore.

7. A device as in claim 6 including a disc on said driver bar adjacentsaid cam, and a ring cap on said plug encircling said driver bar andabutting said disc.

8. A device as in claim 7 in which said ring cap and said plug haveinterengaging threads.

9. A device as in claim 1 in which said rod has an indicator end andsaid cam slides said rod from a position with said indicator endsubstantially flush with said outer end to a position with saidindicator end projecting from said outer end.

1. A lock indicator comprising a lock body, a lock plug rotatable insaid body about an axis and having an inner end face and an outer endface, means defining a bore in said plug extending between said endfaces, a rod slidable in said bore and having a follower end, a driverbar rotatable about said axis relative to said plug, and a cam on saiddriver bar in engagement with said follower end and adapted to slidesaid rod in said bore when said driver bar is rotated relative to saidplug.
 2. A device as in claim 1 in which said rod extends alongside ofand parallel to said axis and said cam includes an axially undulatorysurface spaced from said axis and in line with said follower end.
 3. Adevice as in claim 1 including a spring urging said follower end of saidrod toward said cam.
 4. A device as in claim 3 in which said spring isdisposed in said bore surrounding said rod.
 5. A device as in claim 4 inwhich said bore includes a shoulder and said pin includes a shoulder andsaid spring bears against both of said shoulders.
 6. A device as inclaim 1 in which said plug has a counter bore in one end centered onsaid axis and intersecting said bore, and said cam is disposed in saidcounter bore.
 7. A device as in claim 6 including a disc on said driverbar adjacent said cam, and a ring cap on said plug encircling saiddriver bar and abutting said disc.
 8. A device as in claim 7 in whichsaid ring cap and said plug have interengaging threads.
 9. A device asin claim 1 in which said rod has an indicator end and sAid cam slidessaid rod from a position with said indicator end substantially flushwith said outer end to a position with said indicator end projectingfrom said outer end.